Tall Tales Webquest - Cherokee County Schools

Folk Tales!
A WebQuest for 4th Grade
Designed by
Angie Robinson
Angela.Robinson@cherokee.k12.ga.us
Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion | Credits | Teacher Page
Introduction
Folk tales, tall tales, and fables, oh my! What is the difference between
these stories? This is your mission! You will be sent hunting through the
internet to chop your way through folk tales. There may be animals that
will stop to talk to you along the way, or a wise old man wanting to teach
you a lesson. Be strong and confident, and don’t let anyone or anything
pull your leg!
Essential Question(s):
1. What are the commonalities and differences between folk tales, such as tall tales and
fables?
2. What elements are within a folktale, tall tale, and fable?

3. How do these stories teach a lesson that can be related to our everyday lives?
4. How can we create our own stories to teach a moral lesson?
The Task
Students, your first mission is to complete a scavenger hunt through the internet to
learn as much as you can about the subject in question. Then you will use that
knowledge to design your own story that is a fable. You will use this story to
design your film, which can be created through claymation, or a film with your
classmates as actors in your play. You will have a chance to take your creation into
movie maker or adobe premier and add special effects and credits.
The Process
Mission #1 The Scavenger Hunt
Directions: Read each question carefully and click on the website link. You
must read the story on the website and answer the questions from the
scavenger hunt. (I have printed a copy of this scavenger hunt out for you
to fill in!)
1. In this Tall Tale, Paul Bunyan could holler so loud he scared all the _______ out of
the rivers and streams.
http://www.americanfolklore.net/folktales/me5.html
2. In this Tall Tale, Pecos Bill was only known to have been thrown once in his whole
cowboy career. That was when he was riding a ___________.
http://www.americanfolklore.net/folktales/ks2.html
3. In this Fable, what should the farmer and his wife do the next time they hear a rooster
trying to wake them up?

What might happen again if they don’t get up?
http://www.americanfolklore.net/folktales/ga.html
4. In the folk tale “Coyote and the Columbia” why was the Columbia River created?
http://www.americanfolklore.net/folktales/wa.html
5. Choose story #3 “Rainbow of the Sioux.” Listen to the small portion of the story and
write a couple of sentences with exaggeration (hyperboles) of what you think will
happen next.
http://www.talltalesaudio.com/
6. In the fable, “The Fox and the Grapes” who was the smartest, the farmer or the fox?
What in the story makes you think that?
http://www.pitara.com/talespin/folktales/online.asp?story=32
7. Name 3 exaggerations from this small story of Paul Bunyan:
http://www.paulbunyantrail.com/page2.html
8. Listen to the story and list 3 new exaggerations you learned about Paul Bunyan.
http://www.animatedtalltales.com/flash/story/
9. Read “The Basics” What is the major element of a Tall Tale?
http://42explore.com/talltale.htm
10. John Henry tried to beat the steam drill with only a ________ in his hand.
http://www.ibiblio.org/john_henry/early.html
11. What lesson did the grasshopper learn in the fable, “The Ant and the

Grasshopper?”
http://www.umass.edu/aesop/content.php?n=0&i=1
12. How is a fable different from a tall tale? Use all the information you have
learned from the searches you did above. If you need help you can look the words up
at www.dictionary.com.
13. What is a Folk Tale?
www.dictionary.com
Mission #2 Writing Your Own Story
Now that you have done your research, you should know that folk tales have been
passed down from generation to generation, mostly through stories told orally.
Fables are a special part of folk tales because they are meant to teach a lesson.
Now it is your turn to teach the generations that come after you. You must think of
an important lesson that you think all students must know. Since you are fourth
graders, it is important to help the students that come to your school to know the
important things to help them survive their elementary years.
Make sure you include animal characters (No more than 3)!
What problem would your characters face?
There must be a trickster in the story that leads to the moral lesson.
The problem must be solved.
The moral lesson must be stated at the end.
Hint: Create the moral first and then your story around it! Make sure this is written

in a play format, and continuously check the rubric below to make sure you have
everything you need.
Mission #3 Producing your Story
Tier 1
If you choose Tier 1, you will be taking your play and gathering friends to be
actors in your play. When you are finished you will download your movie from
your flip camera onto movie maker and adding your credits, etc.
Step 1: Determine which classmates would be best for your play, and ask them
if they would like to be a part of your act.
Step 2: Give each classmate a copy of your script and practice where you want
them to stand and practice voice projection. You will be filming the play so you
can not be in the play!
Step 3: Gather together costumes and props you will need. Meet with your
teacher to see what she can provide and what you will need to bring. Create any
props or scenery you will need.
Step 4: Make sure all your costumes and props are ready the day before filming
so you can have a dress rehearsal.
Step 5: You will use a flip camera to film the movie.
Step 6: When you are finished filming you will download your movie to movie
maker and save on a thumb drive.
Step 7: Now it is time for editing! First, create a title page with a title and
author.
Step 8: You can add music from soundzabound for the introduction and the

credits at the end.
Step 9: Add a credits page at the end with your actor’s names and thanking
anyone who helped you in creating your film.
Hint: Be sure to save your work often!!!
Tier 2
For Tier 2, you will be creating your story with claymation. When you are finished
filming with your web camera you will download your movie to movie maker to
add music, credits, etc.
Step 1: Determine if you will need a partner to help in manipulating your
characters.
Step 2: Decide if you will do a voice over, for the story or will you have
different slide come into your film to tell the story.
Step 3: Gather materials you will need to create your characters and scenery.
Meet with your teacher to see what she can provide and what you will need to
bring. Create any props or scenery you will need.
Step 4: Make sure all your props are ready the day before filming so you can
have a dress rehearsal. You may need practice filming a couple of times to get the
timing correct.
Step 5: You will use a web camera to film the movie. You may need to record
your voice if you are doing the voices.
Step 6: When you are finished filming you will download your movie to movie
maker and save on a thumb drive.
Step 7: Now it is time for editing! First, create a title page with a title and
author.
Step 8: You can add music from soundzabound for the introduction and the
credits at the end.
Step 9: Add a credits page at the end with your actor’s names and thanking

anyone who helped you in creating your film.
Hint: Be sure to save your work often!!!
Tier 3
This Tier also involves using your classmates as characters in your play. However,
instead of using movie maker for editing, you will use Adobe Premier for special
effects.
Step 1: Determine which classmates would be best for your play, and ask them if
they would like to be a part of your act.
Step 2: Give each classmate a copy of your script and practice where you want
them to stand and practice voice projection. You will be filming the play so you
can not be in the play!
Step 3: Gather together costumes and props you will need. Meet with your
teacher to see what she can provide and what you will need to bring. Create any
props or scenery you will need. Keep in mind you could use a green screen effect
for your movie. To do that we will need to plan ahead to put up the green screen
and make sure the costumes don’t blend with it. There should be a lot of movement
with your characters either.
Step 4: Make sure all your costumes and props are ready the day before filming
so you can have a dress rehearsal.
Step 5: You will use a flip camera to film the movie.
Step 6: When you are finished filming you will download your movie to Adobe
Premier and save on a thumb drive.
Step 7: Now it is time for editing! First, create a title page with a title and
author. You can use the effects from Adobe that can add already created
introductions with applause and credits pages.
Step 8: You can add music from soundzabound for the introduction and the
credits at the end.
Step 9: Add a credits page at the end with your actor’s names and thanking
anyone who helped you in creating your film.

Step 10: Add any other needed special effects between scenes or green screen
effects.
Hint: Be sure to save your work often!!!
Evaluation
Now it is time to grade your story. Make sure you read through all the
Exemplary boxes to make sure your have included everything. You must
turn your story in to your teacher, and if you score in the accomplished or
exemplary columns then you can begin Mission #3!
CATEGORY 4 Exemplary 3 Accomplished 2 Approaching 1 Needs More
Characters
Problem
Solution to
Problem in
Story
The main characters
are named and
clearly described
(through words
and/or actions). The
audience knows and
can describe what
the characters look
like and how they
typically behave, and
they are animals.
It is very easy for the
audience to
understand what
problem the main
character(s) face
and why it is a
problem.
The solution to the
problem is easy-tounderstand
and is
logical. There are no
loose ends.
The main characters
are named and
described (through
words and/or
actions). The
audience has a fairly
good idea of what
the characters look
like, and they are
animals.
It is fairly easy for
the audience to
understand what
problem the main
character(s) face
and why it is a
problem.
The solution to the
problem is easy-tounderstand
and is
somewhat logical.
The main characters
are named. The
audience knows very
little about the main
characters.
It is fairly easy for
the audience to
understand what
problem the main
character(s) face
and but it is not clear
why it is a problem.
The solution to the
problem was a little
hard to understand.
It is hard to tell who
the main characters
are.
It is not clear what
problem the main
character(s) face.
No solution was
attempted or it was
impossible to
understand.

Moral Lesson
Trickster
Conclusion
The moral lesson is
clearly stated and
one character
teaches the other
through the problem,
solution, and trick.
One character tricks
another to help teach
the moral lesson,
and it is easily
identified in the
story.
The moral lesson is
stated through the
problem and
solution.
One character tricks
another to help teach
the moral lesson.
The moral lesson is
stated, and is
starting to be
developed.
One character tricks
another, and it is
easily identified in
the story.
Score
The moral lesson is
stated, but is not
shown in the story.
One character tricks
another character.
Now that you are well versed in Folk Tales, writing plays, and now
producing your own movies, you can always go forward and try some tall
tales on your own. They can be a lot of fun and full of exaggeration. Look
at the link below for some sample plays.
http://www.aaronshep.com/stories/index.html
Credits & References
Thank you to all the websites listed on this WebQuest. This is meant
strictly for educational purposes.
A special thank you to Jim Berry and Merry Willis for your wealth of
knowledge in technology and movie making!
Last updated on August 15, 1999. Based on a template from The WebQuest Page